Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) Performance
VBK total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +8.7% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +8.0% total return
- 5 years
- +2.8% a year
- 10 years
- +10.6% a year
- Since first price
- +9.4% a year since 2004
VBK trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VBK total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −3.8% | −3.9% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −4.9% | −4.9% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −1.6% | −1.8% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +8.7% | +8.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +8.0% | +7.5% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +65.1%+18.2%/yr | +62.3% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +14.9%+2.8%/yr | +11.7% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +173.3%+10.6%/yr | +156.6% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +394.0%+11.2%/yr | +341.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +494.3%+9.3%/yr | +416.2% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 30, 2004 | +673.6%+9.4%/yr | +568.3% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: VBK vs SPY
From Jan 30, 2004: VBK grew to $77,363, SPY to $101,402.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VBK returns by calendar year
16 of 21 full years positive. Best 2009 (+42.8%), worst 2008 (−40.3%). 2026 is year to date.
VBK annual returns table
| Year | VBK | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +8.7% | −11.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +8.5% | −25.7% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +16.5% | −10.2% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +21.4% | −17.9% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −28.4% | −33.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +5.7% | −13.6% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +35.4% | −38.7% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +32.8% | −7.9% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −5.7% | −26.0% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +21.9% | −5.2% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +10.9% | −15.6% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −2.6% | −15.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +4.0% | −13.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +38.3% | −5.4% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +17.8% | −12.9% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −1.6% | −28.9% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +30.9% | −19.3% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +42.8% | −28.3% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −40.3% | −54.3% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +9.9% | −11.9% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +12.2% | −17.0% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +8.7% | −9.7% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
VBK largest drawdowns
Now 10.5% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2007 | −58.7% | Mar 9, 2009 | Dec 7, 2010 | 1.4 years | 3.2 years |
| Feb 20, 2020 | −38.7% | Mar 18, 2020 | Jul 29, 2020 | 27 days | 5 months |
| Nov 8, 2021 | −38.4% | Jun 16, 2022 | Nov 25, 2024 | 7 months | 3.0 years |
| Jul 7, 2011 | −28.9% | Oct 3, 2011 | Sep 7, 2012 | 3 months | 1.2 years |
| Dec 4, 2024 | −27.5% | Apr 8, 2025 | Sep 18, 2025 | 4 months | 9 months |
| Jun 23, 2015 | −26.6% | Feb 11, 2016 | Dec 8, 2016 | 8 months | 1.5 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VBK risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +17.1% | +4.4% | +10.6% | +9.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 21.0% | 20.3% | 19.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.69 | 0.14 | 0.49 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.15 | 0.20 | 0.74 | — |
| Best month | +13.1% | +13.1% | +16.4% | +16.7% |
| Worst month | −7.8% | −12.8% | −18.5% | −22.2% |
| Best 12 months | +39.0% | +39.0% | +83.6% | +83.6% |
| Worst 12 months | −2.9% | −30.0% | −31.8% | −44.0% |
| Positive months | 64% | 53% | 62% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.32 | 1.18 | 1.17 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.86 | 0.88 | 0.89 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
VBK rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 262 | −44.0% | +12.3% | +83.6% | 78% |
| 3-year (a year) | 238 | −17.0% | +11.3% | +34.7% | 84% |
| 5-year (a year) | 214 | −6.0% | +8.5% | +30.0% | 97% |
| 10-year (a year) | 154 | +6.3% | +10.3% | +18.6% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2004. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VBK performance overview
Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) returned +8.0% over the past year and +10.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2004 it has returned +9.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $77,363. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −58.7%, from Oct 10, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 1.7 years to get back to the old high. VBK finished 16 of its 21 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+42.8%) and the worst 2008 (−40.3%). Volatility has been 19.6% a year.
Related: VBK chart, VBK holdings, VBK dividends, VBK valuation. See the VBK overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VBK performance FAQ
What is the VBK return over the past year?
VBK returned +8.0% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 7.5%.
What is the average annual return of VBK?
VBK has returned +2.8% a year over 5 years, +10.6% a year over 10 years, +9.4% a year since January 30, 2004 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VBK be worth?
$10,000 invested in VBK at its first recorded close on January 30, 2004 would be worth about $77,363 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VBK?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −40.3%. The best was 2009 at +42.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VBK?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −58.7% between October 10, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on December 7, 2010, 1.7 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VBK?
Over the past 3 years VBK had an annualized volatility of 19.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.69 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).